Butia odorata (Barb. Rodr.) Noblick

Jelly Palm

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Jelly Palm is an introduced fibrous tree-like monocot in the Palm family (Arecaceae). It is native to Brazil and Uruguay. Jelly Palm is widely planted in south Alabama and persists after cultivation or spreads by seed. Jelly Palm has a single stout unbranched trunk growing 10-25 feet in height. Leaves are petiolate, spirally arranged, and pinnate. The leaves are arching and up to 6 feet in length. The petiole is flattened on the upper surface and rounded on the lower surface and has fibers and spines along its margin. There are 30-60 pairs of pinna along the rachis. Flowers are produced in a 3-4-foot-long branched spadix protected by a woody spathe. Male flowers are produced near the base of the spadix and female flowers near the ends. The individual flowers are small and inconspicuous. They are green or yellowish-green in color. The fruit is an orange fleshy drupe with a large stone containing the seed. The fruit is aromatic and the fleshy portion is edible. Fruit taste is variable, somewhat apricot-like and ranges from sweet to sour. The fruit can be eaten fresh or made into jelly or wine. Jelly Palm is widely available from nurseries, and several varieties are commonly sold. It prefers a sunny location with a well-draining soil. Until 2011 this species was lumped with Butia capitata, a more tropical species.—A. Diamond

This species was first collected in Alabama by Alvin Diamond in Geneva County in 2015.

Not Native

Byrd, T.C. and A.R. Diamond. 2018. New vascular plant records for Alabama. Phytoneuron 2018-5: 1–5.